GIVE JOYFULLY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I think I can say this with firm confidence...

Everyone likes to receive gifts.

It goes back to our youngest days, particularly as it applied to two big holidays we would celebrate, birthday and Christmas. On either day, the expectation was that there would be presents. Some of those would match up with things we requested; others would come to us as a surprise. Either way, we loved to be the center of attention when it came to the generosity of others.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get as indoctrinated to give at the same level we received and as we left our childhoods aside and moved into adulthood, we were exposed to the reality that there were (and still are) a lot of people in our world who are in need. They might be referred to as the “have-nots” who are desperately hoping that they might receive help from those who have.

It’s in this place that we find a clash of attitudes. People needing help from others while those “others” aren’t necessarily conditioned to give as gladly as they receive.

You see, chronic receiving can leave a person terribly self centered in the way they approach life in general. Thankfully, our Lord knows this and provides us His wisdom and guidance so that we can do the things He wants us to do, to include giving. Look at these words from the seventh verse of 2^nd Corinthians, chapter 9:

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Keep in mind here that God encourages His readers to sow generously so to reap generously in verse 6. As we will see in future messages, the Lord gives more to those who give freely to others, those who sow and distribute the provisions He has given to bless others.

As we read the scriptures, we know that our Lord calls us to give. He expects us to provide for others as He provides for us and He doesn’t want that providing to be out of a sense of reluctance or compulsion. Rather, He wants us to delight, to rejoice and be glad in our giving. We should feel great joy when we get outside of ourselves and make a difference in the life of another.

Maybe you have experienced this yourself. I know I have.

In fact, I can honestly testify today that I get more satisfaction and happiness in life from freely giving to others than I do from being on the receiving end of gifts from others. These days, I feel comfortable and at peace in knowing that God has me in His hands, both now and in the eternal life to come through His Son Jesus. He never leaves me in want and indeed has taught me through His word and Spirit to be satisfied with what I have. I have learned to be content in my current life situation and since I don’t expend what the Lord has provided on me, I have it available to give cheerfully to others.

Are you looking for a joy injection in your life?

Try giving to someone who needs it, helping those Jesus referred to as “the least of these” and remember that when you do so, our Savior tells us that it is as if we are doing unto Him, giving cheerfully and self sacrificially to the One who laid everything aside in His life so that we might be saved.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com